Global Market Place aims for easy access to small vendors

Right now, there's nothing to seen, nothing to buy. There's only the yawning expanse of a 104,000-square-foot shell.

But when Mustafa Kavruklar viewed the former House 2 Home building at 2260 S. Rainbow Blvd., he saw it filled with independent vendors, selling items homeowners need, all under one roof, with no entry fee.

That's the concept for Global Market Place, which is slated to open the first week of June. Its 221 upscale vendors fall into three categories: home improvements, furnishings and gifts. The concept is the first of its kind in the country, said Bob Ratliff, sales manager. That fact caused concern over how to describe it when advertising.

"We call it an upscale swap meet, for lack of a better term," he said. "Swap meet is a bad word for us. But we use it because people might get mixed up on the philosophy of what we're trying to do. But if that's what it takes to get people to come, that's the word we'll use."

At this writing, specifics were not being disclosed on which vendors would be represented. But sales material shows Global Market Place will offer barbecue grills and islands, fireplaces and mantels, swimming pools and spas, outdoor furniture, landscape design and installation, custom doors and windows, ceramic tile, fountains, lighting needs, garage doors, cookware, security systems ... the list goes on.

The property signed up business owners who might otherwise not have a retail presence in Las Vegas. They may work out of a home office or a warehouse, but cannot justify the cost of a shopping-center space. By the Global Market Place being open only Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, the vendors have time to go to sites, take measurements, make improvements and still have the weekend to devote to selling.

"These are not your 19-year-old sales people ," Ratliff said. "These are professionals who know their business."

Leases run from three months to 24 months. No more than four vendors will be allowed who offer the same type of merchandise.

Unlike swap meets that offer one-size booths, the Global Market Place areas run from 10-foot-by-12-foot spaces to 35-foot-by-43-foot spaces. There is also a 13,000-square-foot patio area available for outdoor products.

Kavruklar, originally from Turkey, had a thriving furniture business in San Francisco for many years. He sold it to move to The Lakes with his wife and three sons. He was planning to start a similar business when he toured the vacant House 2 Home site and the wheels started turning.

"I saw this and said to myself, 'This is the one,' " Kavruklar said. "I said, 'This is my baby.' "

He canceled a $500,000 order for furniture, rounded up partners consisting of five families, and began negotiating with the owner.

The interior needed few changes, nothing more than to remove one wall, add wiring for high-speed Internet and install more phones lines. Still, all together it's a $10 million project.

To keep the open, airy feeling of the building, booths are allowed only three- or four- foot high pony walls. Skylights provide natural light and the ceiling is high. A food court will be incorporated near the building's entrance.


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